IN the hardest Draft Central NAB League Boys’ Team of the Week yet, it was near impossible to squeeze just 24 names into our team to round out the season. In a remarkable round of football where big numbers and impressive individual performances flew left, right and centre, there were up to 40 players who made the shortlist to find their way into the team which is stacked with draftable talent. The blockbuster game between Oakleigh Chargers and Sandringham Dragons yielded a massive seven players such was its high quality, while another couple players who missed out – Angus Hanrahan and Louis Butler – arguably would have made it most other weeks. The third emergency this week was Eastern Ranges’ Billy McCormack whose side was one of many who had the two nominees, with the remaining winners, as well as narrow losers in Bendigo Pioneers and Calder Cannons both having a couple of players in the side. While Dandenong Stingrays, Murray Bushrangers and Western Jets all had just the one, they had more on the shortlist, with the squeeze for spots very difficult.

Oakleigh Chargers’ four names to make the side are arguably the four most talked about players with top-age talents Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson and Trent Bianco, as well as bottom-age exciting forward and Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy member, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan making the side. Sandringham Dragons’ tall Corey Watts slots into full-back after a terrific performance in that game, along with talented representative midfielders Darcy Chirgwin and Finn Maginness, with Maginness also going forward to boot three goals. The forward line certainly has plenty of firepower with six-goal Geelong Falcons’ hero Charlie Sprague lining up at full-forward, joined in the side by bottom-age ruck Henry Walsh who was dynamic in their win.

Looking at the forward pockets, Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels’ Mitch Martin booted three goals in wet conditions to make the side, making the team with a second gamer and Vic Country Under 16s representative Charlie Molan who has earned a spot at half-back more due to his ability to get into defence and clock up more rebounds than other midfielders in the round. In the other pocket is Team of the Week regular, Josh D’Intinosante who slots into the side once again, this week joined by Ryan Sturgess who could have made the team up either end, but finds his place at centre half-back.

Heading to the defensive line, in one back pocket is Gippsland Power’s Tye Hourigan, whose teammate Riley Baldi was sensational on the weekend with 27 touches and a couple of goals in the Power’s come-from-behind win – while Hourigan himself almost kicked the winning goal switching forward late in the match. In the other back pocket is Brady Rowles who stood tall for Bendigo in that match and was unlucky not to drive the Pioneers to victory along with their best, Riley Wilson who booted two goals in the victory. The other representatives to make the side from Sunday’s slogs in the wet at Queen Elizabeth Oval were Murray Bushrangers’ Sam Durham – who we thought was the best of a number of potential players including Jye Chalcraft and Liam Fiore who both made the initial discussions of almost 40 players – and Dandenong Stingrays’ William Lewis who was in for his first game of the year post-injury and shone in a disappointing loss.

Rounding out the team is the tight contest between Eastern Ranges and Calder Cannons with the sides producing a combined four midfielders. Lachlan Stapleton and Mitch Mellis make the side once again for the Ranges, while Daniel Mott and Sam Ramsay are in for the Cannons after strong performances. The final player who earned his spot in the side is Western Jets’ Josh Honey who tried his best in the loss to Northern.